011 782 700 8 



HoUinger 

pH8.5 

Mill Run F3.1 955 



E 286 
.B195 
1852 
Mc 
Copy 1 



GOD'S FOOTSTEPS. 



A SERMON 



DELIVERED IN 



ST. STEPHEN'S CHURCH, BALTIMORE, 



^ Ittln 4tl), 1S52 



The Snnday succeeding the Death of the Hon. Henry Clay. 

By Rey. J: fr MUILTON, D. D. ^ 

-^^ U.S. A, "')) 



BALTIMORE: 

PUBLISHED BY G. W. MAGERS. 
JOHN W. WOODS, PRINTER 

1852. 






Baltimore, July 6, 1852. 

Dear Sir : The undersigned take much pleasure in informing you that the 
congregation worshipping at St. Stephens on last Sunday, the anniversary of 
American Independence, were greatly delighted with the beautiful and eloquent 
discourse delivered by you on that occasion ; and believing that it will be read 
with interest and pleasure by many of your friends who had not opportunity of 
hearing it, they respectfully request a copy for publication. 

There can be no doubt that much good may be accomplished by a proper 
use of the events connected with the day. The deeply interesting occurrence 
of the Sabbath day of our National freedom on the Holy Sabbath day of the 
Lord, in connection with the death of an eminent statesman, renders the season 
a proper one for solemn meditation upon our National blessings and responsi- 
bilities, and if properly improved may be the means of doing much good. With 
these views and feelings we respectfully request that you will comply with our 
desire and allow the sermon to be published. With high respect, 

JOHN ADDISON, N. H. THAYER, 

WM. WILMOT HALL, CHAS. A. LEAS, 

JOHN JAMES VICKERS, L. WARREN, 

HENRY DUVALL, E. W. EDWARDS, 

GEORGE WITMAN, G. ALFRED MITCHELL, 

JOHN R. W. DUNBAR, WM. S. TAYLOR. 

To Rev'd Jno. N. M'Jilton, D. D., 
Rector of St. Stephens. 



Rectory of St. Stephens, Baltimore, July 6, 1852. 
GENTLEMEhf : I have just received your letter and send the sermon as you 
desire. I imagine, however, that when divested of the solemnities that attended 
its delivery you will find many evidences of its necessarily hasty preparation. 

Affectionately, 

J. N. M'JILTON. 
To John Addison, M. D., Wm. Wilmot Hall, Esq., John James Vickers, 
Esq., Henry Duvall, Esq., George Witman, Esq., John R. W. Dunbar, 
M. D., N. H. Thayer, A. M., L. Warren, Esq., E. W. Edwards, M. D., G. 
Alfred Mitchell, Esq., WM. S. TAYLOR, Esq. 



< 



* 



SERMON. 



Psalm LxxYii, 19. 

Thy way is in the sea ; 

Thy path in the great waters ; 

Thy footsteps are not known. 

The stately ship pursues its way in beauty upon the 
sea. It disturbs the tranquil waters to make itself a 
passage. Its wake of foam Hngers but a moment. It 
wastes away, and the sea is as smooth and still as if no 
freight of men nor merchandise had moved upon its 
bosom. 

The monarch of the deep — the mighty leviathan 
plays upon the billows. He dashes the waters aside to 
open a way for his massive form, and rises in sportive 
pastime upon the mountain surge that himself hath 
made to swell. Wearied with his sport upon the sur- 
face, leviathan dives into the depths. The waters 
return to their place and appear as placidly as if no 
giant form had interrupted their repose — as if no mil- 
lions of living beings were hidden in their caves. 

The spirit of the storm in mystery spreads his wings 
upon the deep. He lays his hand upon the ocean's 
mane. He drags the billows from the depths, and 
dashes them aloft against the air. He moves the winds 



and waves that madly rush in the terrific strife. Navies 
strand amid the swellfng surges. Fleets, and freight, 
and men go down to become as nothingness in the cav- 
erns of the sea. Cities are overwhelmed by the tumul- 
tuous waves, and lie in wreck and ruin far beneath the 
elemental war that buried them forever. His work of 
dread and danger done, the spirit of the tempest folds 
his wings. The hand that grasped the ocean's mane 
and made the sleeping billows roll, is withdrawn, and 
the rolling billows are allowed to lull themselves to 
sleep. Old ocean retires for repose, and in his hour 
of rest is tranquil — subdued and peaceful as the rest of 
sleeping infancy. In his repose of calm and quiet 
beauty, none may tell how fiercely ocean rolled — how 
terribly the tempest's deed of mystery was wrought. 

These figures, suggested by the beautiful declaration 
of the inspired psalmist, are but feebly expressive of 
the movements of the great Jehovah among the crea- 
tures of his vast — illimitable creation. The eye of 
inspiration was permitted to look upon those move- 
ments. But the sight was too powerful — too sublime 
to be properly expressed in human language, or evolved 
inhuman thought. He did all that man inspired could 
do when he gave utterance to the text. The way of 
the Great Divinity is as a passage over the sea. It is 
as a path in the great waters. It is enveloped in mys- 
tery. His footsteps cannot be known. How grand 
must have been the idea that trembled in the thought 
of the minstrel prophet ? How glorious ? How ma- 
jestic.'' And yet how beautiful? How full of simpli- 
city ? How redolent of life is the figure, and yet to 
human vision how thoroughly to nothingness it fades.? 
In its grandeur and glory, and majesty and beauty, and 



simplicity, it is the way of God — the path of the Great 
Omnipotent. In the utter nothingness to which it 
fades, it is the view of man. 

The footsteps of the Great Divinity are impressed 
upon the wide-spread universe of his creation, and 
upon the infinity which only his own sovereign mind 
can fathom. Like a way in the sea, or a path in the 
great waters, those footsteps are unseen — they are in- 
visible. They can be known only to himself. They 
are the footsteps of the Great Eternal, and their way 
is upon his own eternity. Darkness is his pavilion. 
(Ps. xxxiii, 7.) The clouds are his chariot. Hewalk- 
eth upon the wings of the winds. (Ps. civ, 3.) 

And as well as upon the universe of his creation, the 
footsteps of the Eternal Majesty- are impressed upon 
this orb that we inhabit. His way of wonder — His 
path of power is among the nations. He raiseth up, 
and he casteth down. It is he only that createth. It 
is he only that can destroy. He moves in his mighty 
purpose, alike, in the empire that spreads from sea to 
sea, and in the little kingdom that nestles upon the 
side of a mountain.* In the fulfilment of that purpose, 
he hath legibly recorded his name and character among 
the nations of the earth. They are written alike in 
blood and in blessing. In blood among the wicked — 
the rebellious — the disobedient. In blessing as well 
among these as among the comparatively good — the 
loyal — the obedient. 

The events of life among nations, communities, and 
with individual men, are wisely, though sometimes to 



•The Kingdom of Israel has been destroyed and the people scattered to the 
four winds. Babylon, Thebes, and Baalbec are no more, and for more than 
thirteen hundred years the little republic of San Marino has been preserved. 

1* 



human observation, strangely ordered. The wisdom 
and the mystery appear in the purpose of God. He 
hath a way — a path. It is a way — a path of wisdom. 
He impresseth his footsteps. It is done in mystery. 
They are unseen. They are unknown. They are 
like the way of the ship upon the sea — the path of the 
leviathan upon the deep. They are like the way — the 
path of the storm upon the ocean. They have their 
passage. But the waters disclose it not — the winds do 
not retain it. Nor can it be traced visibly upon the 
solid earth. But it is a passage — the passage of the 
Great God, and his footsteps are everywhere. The 
effects of their tread of wonder and power are seen — 
they are felt — they are known. The empire arises — 
it flourishes — it falls. The waves of time close over 
it, and its memorial is all that preserves its name and 
history from being buried in oblivion's sea. So He the 
empires of the past. They have been upon the sea, 
and they have passed away. 

Time's restless waves have proudly passed them o'er, 
And then those waves have roll'd as they had roU'd before. 

When the Israelites entered the territory of the Ca- 
naanitish nations they found the impress of Divinity. 
But it was found in the fetters of a dark and gloomy and 
bloody idolatry. The days of their iniquity were num- 
bered, and the power of Heaven was wisely and strange- 
ly manifested in their extermination, and in rearing up 
in their stead and upon their soil a people for the honor 
and worship of the true — the everliving God. As 
strangely as they were led through the wilderness to 
the land that was promised them were they protected, 
and governed in the home that had so providentially 



been prepared for them. Many and familiar are the 
waymarks of God's providence that are recorded 
among his ancient and most highly favored people. 
Their history is a continuous exhibition of the wonder- 
ful intervention of his power. It is the impress of in- 
spiration that history bears, and the way of God in 
working it out is seen in a lengthened chain of mystery 
and miracle. No other nation of the globe can show upon 
the records of its history the marks so distinctly and 
clearly impressed of Heaven's inspiration. To them 
were committed the oracles of God. In the possession 
of these, they appear as a peculiar people — a people of 
inspiration. But other nations bear the marks as dis- 
tinctly impressed and as plainly seen of God's providen- 
tial interference. In some instances the evidences of 
his providence among other nations are almost as mys- 
terious as were the marks of inspiration among the 
people of Israel. The footsteps of his Awful Majesty 
have marked his way among the nations and kindreds 
of the earth. Those footsteps have moved upon the 
the sea — upon the winds — upon the soil. But neither 
the waves, the winds, nor the soil have retained the 
visible impression of his presence and his power. No 
voice of inspiration proclaims the purpose as it did of 
old. But the movements of his providence are as 
clearly marked, and may be as distinctly traced. 

When, like the Israelites among the nations of Ca- 
naan, the little bands of European adventurers sought a 
home upon the wild American shores, they found the 
impress of Divinity. The footsteps of God had been 
there. They had left their marks amid the gloom of a 
savage wilderness. Amid ignorance, barbarism and 
idolatry the idea of a Great Supreme was fixed in the 



8 

savage mind. They worshipped. But they worshipped 
they knew not what. They hved — they cared not 
hoWj so their sensual desires were satisfied and the in- 
dulgence of their lawless propensities undisturbed. 
Like the nations of ancient Canaan, they quarrelled — 
they fought — they ate each other's flesh — they drank 
each other's blood. Doubtless the measure of their 
base impieties was full, when the adventurers of Europe 
placed their feet upon their shores. Doubtless those 
adventurers were providentially directed in their un- 
certain journey. No voice of inspiration audibly pro- 
claimed a promise of success, but the finger of an 
Omniscient Providence pointed to the western world, 
and the strong arm of the Mightiest led them to its coasts. 
The wanderers hewed themselves a home amid the 
dark wild forest, and commenced the cultivation of the 
arts of peace and the worship of the true God. It was 
the march of civilization. It was the march of Chris- 
tianity. It turned the wilderness into a garden of 
flowers, and upon the hunting ground of the savage 
reared the splendid city. It fulfilled the declaration of 
ancient prophecy in causing the desert to blossom as 
the rose. It recorded the name of God in his worship 
upon the hills and plains. It was the deed by which 
they were "graven with a pen of iron and lead in the 
rock forever." (Job, xix, 24.) 

The land of the savages of the western wilderness, 
like that of the nations of Canaan, has become the land 
of civilization. It has become more. It has become 
the land of Christianity — the land of the people of God 
under the new and better dispensation of his church. 
In the change is seen the footsteps of Divinity. It has 
been like the way of God in the sea — like his path in 



the great waters. It was effected by men, and appar- 
ently by human means. But the finger of the Omnis- 
cient pointed the way. The arm of the Omnipotent 
directed its accomplishment. Like the barbarians of 
Canaan, the savages of this western land, have wasted 
"by little and little," fExod. xxiii, 30,) until, as a race, 
they have almost become extinct. In the few that are 
left, the American christian reads the purpose of Heaven 
in the distribution of His blessings among the inhabitants 
of the earth, and in the use of its territory for the accom- 
plishment of his wonderful designs. They remain as 
did the Ammonite and Moabite near the people of 
Israel, to remind us as they were reminded of the favors 
received from God, and as a warning of duty on the 
part of his subjects to love and faithfully serve him. 

Our land of wealth and beauty is but another land 
of promise, and in its gift we trace the footsteps of our 
heavenly Benefactor in the working of his Sovereign 
will. As it was His pleasure to give no king to Israel, 
but to be the king Himself of his favored people, so 
hath it pleased Him that no king but Himself should 
rule over this land. The freedom enjoyed by the 
American people is the gift of God. Mind in its en- 
lightenment becomes impatient in the restraints of 
civil oppression. It pants for liberty. It struggles to 
be free. So panted, and so struggled the early settlers 
of this continent. The free winds of the American 
wilderness fanned the brows that had been fevered in 
the restraints of monarchical rule. The cooling draught 
was grateful to their feelings and like those winds they 
would be free. How they struggled with their oppres- 
sor. How they snapped asunder the yoke that he 
placed upon their necks. How they resisted. How 



10 

they fought and bled, and prayed and triumphed, their 
history will tell to the latest generation. 

This day — the Fourth of July is a sign and seal 
of freedom to the American patriot. It is a memorial 
of the trials and triumphs of the American fathers in 
the days of the Revolution. It tells that in the face of 
tyranny they had courage to proclaim their wrongs. 
It tells that when they demanded redress and it was 
refused they dared to proclaim to their oppressors and 
to the world their determination to be free. It tells 
how they bound themselves, and the colonies they re- 
presented in a bond of Union which neither tyranny, 
nor trial, nor persecution, nor human power — which 
nothing but death could dissolve. It tells how they 
endured — how they suffered — how they labored and 
how they persevered until victory hovered over their 
standard, and their banner of the stripes and stars waved 
over a free people. It tells of the peace — the pros- 
perity — the plenty and the happiness the people of this 
land have possessed and enjoyed since the year 1776 
it proclaimed them to the world a free and independent 
nation. All this is told by the day of festivity and joy. 
And more than all this it tells. It tells that the tri- 
umph of free principles is keeping pace with the pro- 
gress of mental enlightenment. It tells that as the 
nations emerge from barbarism to civilization, and to 
enlightenment, and to religion, they become more free 
and more capable of the possession of the treasure and 
consequently more happy. And more than this it tells. 
It tells that if the descendants of the men of the Revo- 
lution would preserve their inheritance of freedom, like 
those men they must be pure, self-sacrificing patriots — 
Christian men whom no fear can intimidate, but the fear 



11 

of offending God, and who acknowledge no allegiance 
that does not recognize him as the centre of its unity 
and the circumscribing limit of its authority. And 
more than this it tells. It tells that as the men of the 
Revolution were so entirely a unit in their purpose of 
giving freedom to their country that a traitor could not 
remain among them, but had to fly for protection to a 
foreign hostile government, so are the successors of 
those men to be one and indivisible in their determina- 
tion to preserve their heritage of freedom in its unity 
and purity, and that if one, either for his opinion, or his 
price should betray his trust, the moral force of the 
people would bear him down to his level and cause him 
to hide his diminished head in shame. All this and 
more, this day of freedom tells. It tells that the foot- 
steps of Him whose way is in the sea and whose path is 
in the great waters have touched it, and left upon it 
the marksof their mysterious tread. It is wonderful — 
it is providential that John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, 
and James Monroe, three Presidents of the Republic to 
which it gave existence — that was declared free on the 
Fourth day of July, should have been taken from their 
labors to their reward on its anniversary. And the 
wonder is increased and the providence rendered more 
mysterious in the fact that two of them — Adams and 
Jefferson, the principal authors of the Declaration of 
Independence, were taken on the same day, and that 
the fiftieth — the jubilaticyear of the independence, for 
the securing of which they periled their fortunes and 
lives, and pledged their sacred honor. Surely these 
strangely coincident events could not have occurred by 
mere accident. They must have been providential. 
And as providential coincidences in relation to the an- 



12 

niversary of American freedom, they call upon the 
patriots of this land to consider them in connection with 
their duties to their country — to their countrymen — to 
their God. If they are the footsteps of the Most High, 
they are intended for use. They are for admonition — 
for reproof of wrong — for encouragement of right — for 
direction in seeking our own and our country's good in 
His hallowed service. 

We celebrate to-day the Seventy-fifth anniversary 
of our day of freedom. It is a day in which a nation's 
heart is thrilled with grateful joy. It falls upon the 
Sabbath — the holy day of God, and from the sacred 
desk a legion voices proclaim, and millions of swelling- 
hearts respond to the proclamation of a nation's gratitude 
to Heaven for the hand of mercy which is over us, and 
for the rich blessings it is ever pouring upon us. But 
while this universal offering of grateful praise is rising 
from a nation's lips, a nation's heart is bleeding, and a 
nation's tears are flowing from its depths. A mourn- 
ful pageant is now passing through this land and the 
drapery of death is waving upon its winds of freedom. 
The American flag is unfurled and spreads its folds in 
beauty upon the breeze, but it bears aloft the badge of 
sorrow. The footsteps of the Great God have but just 
passed by us, and with them has passed away from 
earth and earthly toil forever, the spirit of one who was 
as proudly eminent in the councils of the nation as he 
is now profoundly venerated in the affections of the 
people. With the lamented dead, and with the great 
that have gone to their reward is now associated the 
name of Henry Clay — the patriot — the statesman — 
the devoted friend of American liberty. On this day 
of proud memorial, how often has his voice been heard 



13 

expressing his admiration of the characters and deeds 
of the revolutionary patriots? How often repeated 
have been his efforts to render their work of freedom 
perpetual by embalming it more deeply in the affections 
of his countrymen. And now that he sleeps in death, 
on this day so dear to the American heart, how many 
voices are speaking his eulogy — how many tongues are 
telling over the deeds that have made his memory im- 
mortal ? 

On this occasion, memorable as a festival both of the 
Church and the State — memorable alike ingrief and joy, 
it is meet and right that a passing notice should be given 
to the character and deeds of the departed statesman 
and patriot. For more than half a century the name 
of Henry Clay has been identified with the National 
Council of his country. He has been a prominent actor 
in the most important events that have occupied the 
attention of the statesmen of his day. The feature that 
stands out most strongly marked in his political charac- 
ter, is his devotion to the Union of the States. Closely 
connected with this feature is that of the honor of the 
National American character. Since the question of 
States Rights was introduced, which a number of the 
most eminent of his compeers have been mistaken in 
advocating, doubtless without being aware of it, against 
some of the most important interests of the General 
Government, he has most eminently distinguished him- 
self as an advocate for the Union. He has never for 
a moment tolerated the idea that any right possessed by 
a State, nor anything whatever, should be allowed to 
interpose itself between a State and the Union. He 
has openly and repeatedly proclaimed himself the enemy 
of whatever might be presented in opposition to the 
2 



14 

great confederacy that binds the States of North Amer- 
ica in one General Government. When he first enter- 
ed the House of Representatives, seventeen States com- 
posed the American confederacy. He has been enga- 
ged in the admission into the Union of the additional 
fourteen, nearly half of the present number, and his great 
purpose has ever been to allow no state to be associa- 
ted with the rest in the acknowledgment of -any right 
that might conflict with the rights of the whole. In 
maintaining this principle, he has been obhged to meet 
in opposition some of the ablest minds of the country. 
But he has never faltered in his purpose in relation to 
the Union, nor failed in its accomplishment. Other 
great minds, with some of which he differed upon other 
points of policy, have been associated with him in the 
various contests, and they have always prevailed. 
Many events might be alluded to, were this the time 
and the place, to show his love for the Union — his fear 
that it might receive injury at the hands of its friends — 
and his laborious services in sustaining it. 

Not less prominent in his history than his devotion 
to the Union, does his estimate of the honor of the 
American character appear. One of the most import- 
ant and perhaps valuable acts of his life, in which this 
estimate is seen, is connected with the war of 1812. 
Of that war, under the circumstances that caused its de- 
claration, he was a zealous advocate. He regarded the 
honor of the American confederacy as tarnished in a 
tame submission to the outrages that caused the rup- 
ture between our Government and that of England. 
The search of American vessels upon the high seas, 
and the impressment of American seamen into a foreign 
service, were received as an insult to which the Amer- 



16 

ican flag could not be allowed to submit. With this 
view, which he held in common with a number of the dis- 
tinguished statesmen of the day, and for the support of 
the war of 1812, he resigned his seat in the Senate, and 
was elected by the people of his district in Kentucky 
to the House of Representatives. Both in and out of 
Congress he had to oppose such men as John Quincy 
Adams, James Bayard, Albert Gallatin and others. But, 
notwithstanding their opposition, the party was success- 
ful that was determined to redress the wrong the country 
had sustained, and remove the stain the national es- 
cutcheon had received in the search of American ves- 
sels and the impressment of American seamen. The 
war was declared, and Mr. Clay did his utmost to have 
it vigorously pursued, and to bring it to an honorable 
termination. Dissatisfaction having been expressed in 
relation to the commission appointed to negotiate the 
terms of peace with England, Mr. Clay and Jonathan 
Russell of the war party were associated with it. The 
commission as at first composed, consisted of Messrs. 
Adams, Bayard and Gallatin, and the opinion of Mr. 
Clay and others was, that as they were all of the peace 
party, those of the opposite view should be represent- 
ed in a matter in which they were so much concerned. 
Hence his appointment with Mr. Russell by President 
Madison to aid in effecting the treaty. When these 
gentlemen arrived in Europe they found that the terms 
of the treaty had been agreed upon, but as they were 
not satisfactory to them, they demanded that the nego- 
tiation should be re-opened. For nearly five months 
the subject was discussed by the parties, during which 
Messrs. Clay and Russell insisted that the obnoxious 
feature of search and impressment should be reproba- 



16 

ted by the treaty. Although but partially successful, 
the celebrated treaty of Ghent owes some of its most 
prominent features, which are honorable to American 
liberty, to those gentlemen. 

The last political act in the life of Mr. Clay was the 
presentation to the Senate of his Compromise resolu- 
tions upon the widely agitated and difficult subject of 
slavery. In relation to these resolutions a most aston- 
ishing coincidence has occurred. But a few days be- 
fore the death of Mr. Clay, the conventions of the two 
opposing parties for the nomination of candidates for the 
Presidency of the United States met in this city. And 
widely as those parties had differed in policy, and bit- 
terly as they had opposed each other for years, both 
adopted the compromise of the great statesman as a 
basis upon which to rest their political platforms. 
How gratifying it must have been to the dying patriot 
that both parties should thus have adopted his Compro- 
mise. It must have been a high source of pleasure to him 
that the violence of party feeling had so far subsided, that 
the contest for political principle was likely to be carried 
on in a more friendly spirit than it had been for many 
years. But a few days after this satisfactory and grati- 
fying event he bowed peacefully, and without a mur- 
mur, to the mandate of Heaven, and resigned his spirit 
to the God who gave it. His work is done. The 
measure of his years and honors is full. He has been 
gathered to his reward. 

It was but a few years ago that Mr. Clay formally 
and openly entered upon the responsibilities and duties 
of religion. He was baptized in the Protestant Epis- 
copal Church and became at once a communicant at her 
altar. Since that time he has been earnestly devoted 



17 

to his religious duties. Upon his death-bed he had a 
Jong season for reflection, and was thankful that he was 
spared to consider his spiritual condition and hold a 
lengthened communion with his God. In meekness 
and without reserve he surrendered himself to the 
keeping of his Heavenly Master. There is a volume 
of interest in the declaration of his behef and confidence 
in the christian faith, made to a brother Senator a short 
time previous to his death. "/ am not afraid to die, I 
have hope^ faith, and some confidence. I do not think 
any man can be entirely certain in regard to his 
future state, but I have an abiding trust in the merits 
and mediation of the Saviour. ^^ 

How childlike in its simplicity and trust was the faith 
of this great man ? His own words in view of death 
show how utterly worthless he regarded all human 
things in comparison with the treasures of eternity, and 
hov^r devotedly and confidently he reposed his trust in 
Christ. His own character and deeds and the plaudits 
and benedictions of his countrymen that he had been 
receiving for half a century were all forgotten, and 
the prospect of Heaven was to him the portion of rich- 
est blessing. A receding world was nothing in his view 
vi^hen the unalterable realities of a future state were open- 
ing before his spiritual vision. His testimony is that of a 
great mind to the truth of the Christian faith and the con- 
solations of the Gospel. In the reception of the emblems 
of the Broken Body and Shed Blood of his Lord and 
Saviour, he confessed, in deeds, as he had done in words, 
his entire reliance upon His merits and mediation for the 
cleansing of his soul, and for the joys of salvation, which 
he hoped to realize in Heaven. Brethren of the Com- 
munion, we shall soon assemble at the Table of the Lord 



18 

to testify, as did the departed statesman, our faith in 
Christ, and our hope in the merits of His death. Like 
him, in view of death and the eternal future, let us 
divest our thoughts of earthly considerations, and our 
affections of earthly hopes, and let us commune in 
spirit with the vast household of our common faith — 
in the surrender of self — in the forgetfulness of all that 
is earthly and sensual — in the knowledge only of Christ 
and Him crucified. 

We mourn the departed, and it is well that we should 
do so. Humanity, in its affliction, finds rehef in tears. 
But it is not to our profit that so much of our thoughts 
should be given to the dead as amass of lifeless flesh — 
a cold and wasting tenant of the cemetery. The form 
we follow to the tomb is but the remnant of the depart- 
ed — the least valuable part of the once living man — the 
loved and valued friend. Around that form hopes may 
have clustered — affections entwined, and it may have 
become dear to us. But it was the spirit that looked 
and spake from the frame work of flesh that attracted 
our notice and drew out our affections. And that spirit 
dies not with the dissolving body. It passes from it, 
and from this world to another state of being. It still 
lives. It still loves. It is still capable of enjoyment. 
So has passed from earth and from the form it inhabit- 
ed, the spirit of the great statesman and patriot whose 
memorial we mingle with our devotions to-day. He 
has gone to the reward of his faith, and while his dead 
body shall waste in the sepulchre, we doubt not that 
his living spirit shall pursue its way of peace in the pre- 
sence of its God. There is a place into which the 
spirit passes when it leaves its earthly dwelling. There 
it waits the resurrection, when it shall be reunited to 



19 

the body to be separated no more, but to dwell in union 
during the endless years of Heaven. It is encouraging 
to the christian heart — the heart of Faith, to beheve, 
that although all that is valuable, and lovely, and attrac- 
tive of this world must fade, and fall, and crumble into 
the nothingness of decay — although 

"Love and hope, and beauty's bloom, 
Seem trophies only for the tomb," 

there is a world of the future in which all shall be re- 
covered. There is a dwelling place of immortality, 
where the light shines forever, and the glory is not dim- 
med by even a passing shadow. It is the home of the 
faithful and the dead in Christ possess it, and enjoy it 
forever. To the soul of Faith it is joy that it may look 
away from life's calamities and cares ; and in its view of 
Heaven it grieves not that with the Psalmist it must say 
of God— 

"Thy way is in the sea, 
Thy path in the great waters, 
Thy footsteps are not known." 

Although to human view, under the tread of the Al 
mighty's footsteps, life passes like a ship upon the sea, 
or like leviathan over the deep, or like the storm upon 
the ocean. It sinks amid the waves of time to rise no 
more upon them. Yet in the view of Faith, under the 
eye and arm of Providence, its fall is but its transit to 
another and an eternal state. It is by Faith so slighted 
by the worldly, and sometimes so neglected by the wise, 
that we follow the Great Divinity in his purpose, and 
behold the movements of his power in raising up the 
faithful dead for the perpetual enjoyment of the Hfe of 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



20 




011 782 700 8 



Heaven. Although we may not with our eyes of flesh, 
nor in our mental view, behold the way in which he 
walks, the path upon which He treads. His footsteps 
may not thus be known to us, yet are we satisfied 
that they are the footsteps of the Highest— the Holiest ; 
and that they mark His way of might and mercy — of 
power and peace. The soul's rest is upon its Faith — 
the mind assents — hope springs from the word of God's 
revealment, and man — the tossed, the troubled, on the 
sea of life, feels that he is safe. What then though 
all must die ? What then though the greatr and the 
humble go down together to the dust? What then 
though the wise and the simple slumber side by 
side in the narrow dwelling of the dead? Faith, which 
is the gift of God, and may be possessed by all, illumes 
the dreary waste of death and assures us of a better life — 
the life of immortality in Heaven, where the good and 
the great of earth shall assemble to follow the unknown 
footsteps of God forever. Men of mortality, awake to 
your better interests ! Seek your place in Providence 
as children of Faith. Then may you rejoice as you 
look upward from a decaying world, for you shall — 

See Truth, Love and Mercy in triumph descending, 
And Nature all glowing in Eden's first bloom, 
On the cold cheek of death smiles and roses are blending, 
And beauty immortal awakes from the tomb. 



011 782 701 



HoUinger 
pH8.5 
Mill Run F3'19£ 



r 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



011 782 700 8 



HoUinger 

pH8.5 

Mill Run F3.1955 



